Executive Summary: The Role of Drained Peatlands in the Carbon Footprint of European Dairy Farming

This report analyzes the significant gap in current environmental accounting within the European dairy sector: the omission of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained peatlands in Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). Food systems contribute approximately one-third of all anthropogenic GHG emissions, with dairy farming being a major component. While LCAs are standard tools for measuring a product’s carbon footprint (CF) to support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), they frequently overlook the substantial emissions from peatland degradation. Drained peatlands used for agriculture, particularly as grasslands for dairy feed, release an estimated average of 31.7 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per hectare annually. This omission fundamentally distorts the true environmental impact of dairy products, hindering the development of effective mitigation strategies and impeding progress toward SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This report synthesizes current research to highlight this critical issue, assess methodological challenges, and propose recommendations for integrating these emissions into standard LCA practices to align the dairy industry with global sustainability targets.

1.0 Introduction: Aligning Dairy Production with Sustainable Development Goals

1.1 The Critical Role of Peatlands in Global Climate Regulation (SDG 13 & SDG 15)

Peatlands are terrestrial ecosystems of global significance. Despite covering only 3% of the world’s land surface, they store approximately one-third of the world’s soil carbon, twice the amount stored in all global forest biomass. This immense carbon storage capacity makes them crucial for climate regulation and the protection of biodiversity, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). However, intensive agricultural expansion has led to the widespread drainage of peatlands, particularly in Europe. This process transforms these vital carbon sinks into major anthropogenic sources of GHG emissions through peat oxidation, releasing vast quantities of stored carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere.

1.2 Dairy Farming, Land Use Change, and Environmental Impact

The European dairy sector, a cornerstone of the agricultural economy, is directly linked to this environmental challenge. A significant portion of drained peatlands is converted into grasslands for producing animal feed. This practice links the dairy industry, a contributor of 4% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions, to the degradation of these critical ecosystems. The urgent need to meet climate targets, such as the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050, places immense pressure on the agricultural sector to adopt sustainable practices that reconcile food production (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) with environmental protection.

2.0 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Peatland Emission Gap

2.1 LCA as a Tool for Responsible Production (SDG 12)

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an internationally standardized methodology (ISO 14040/14044) used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle. For dairy products, this “cradle-to-gate” analysis calculates a Carbon Footprint (CF), identifying key emission sources from feed production to the farm gate. This makes LCA a powerful tool for developing mitigation strategies and promoting more sustainable production patterns, in line with SDG 12. However, the accuracy and effectiveness of LCAs depend on the completeness of the data included.

2.2 The Critical Omission: A Barrier to Achieving Climate Goals

A fundamental flaw persists in many LCAs of dairy production: the exclusion of GHG emissions from the drainage and agricultural use of peatlands. Unlike grasslands on mineral soils, which can act as carbon sinks, drained peatland pastures are continuous and significant sources of CO₂. The failure to account for these emissions leads to a substantial underestimation of the true carbon footprint of milk produced on these lands. This oversight creates several critical problems:

• It provides a distorted view of the dairy sector’s environmental performance.
• It hinders the identification of the most impactful areas for emission reductions.
• It compromises the ability of policymakers and industry leaders to formulate effective strategies to meet SDG 13 targets.

3.0 Analysis of Current Research and Methodological Challenges

3.1 Systematic Literature Review Findings

A systematic review of scientific literature reveals a scarcity of LCA studies that explicitly integrate emissions from drained peatlands into the carbon footprint of milk. The research that does exist primarily focuses on comparing land-use scenarios, such as conventional dairy farming versus rewetting or paludiculture (wet agriculture). Key findings from this body of research consistently demonstrate:

• Higher Emissions on Peat Soils: Dairy farms on drained peat soils have a considerably higher GHG footprint compared to those on mineral soils, with peat oxidation being a major contributor. One study attributed 1.32 kg CO₂-eq per kg of milk solely to peat oxidation.
• Water Table as a Key Factor: Emissions from peat soils are directly correlated with the depth of the water table; deeper drainage leads to higher CO₂ emissions.
• Economic Viability of Alternatives: Sustainable alternatives like paludiculture show significant potential for GHG mitigation but currently face economic challenges, highlighting the need for policy support and financial incentives to ensure a just transition for farmers, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

3.2 Methodological and Reporting Inconsistencies

The exclusion of peatland emissions from agricultural LCAs is partly due to systemic reporting structures. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), emissions from land use are often reported under the Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, separate from the agricultural sector. This division creates a methodological barrier to holistic assessment at the product level. Furthermore, a lack of standardized, widely accepted methods for quantifying ongoing soil carbon losses from drained peatlands complicates their inclusion in LCAs, creating uncertainty and limiting the comparability of studies.

4.0 Recommendations for a Sustainable Future: Integrating Peatlands into Climate Strategy

4.1 Mitigation Through Nature-Based Solutions (SDG 13 & 15)

Addressing emissions from drained peatlands requires a paradigm shift towards nature-based solutions. The most prominent strategy is the rewetting of these lands. Rewetting halts the process of peat oxidation, drastically reducing CO₂ emissions and helping to restore vital ecosystem services such as water regulation and biodiversity. While rewetting can lead to a short-term increase in methane (CH₄) emissions, long-term analyses confirm a net climate cooling effect, making it a viable and essential mitigation strategy. Agricultural practices can be adapted to these restored ecosystems through paludiculture, which involves cultivating wetland-adapted crops and offers a pathway to maintain agricultural productivity while protecting the climate.

4.2 A Call for Action and Partnership (SDG 17)

To ensure that the carbon footprint of dairy farming is accurately represented and that effective mitigation strategies are implemented, this report advocates for a multi-faceted approach grounded in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The following actions are recommended:

1. Revise LCA Standards: Methodological guidelines for agricultural LCAs, including the International Dairy Federation (IDF) standards, must be updated to mandate the inclusion of GHG emissions from drained organic soils.
2. Adopt Standardized Quantification Methods: To ensure consistency, assessments should utilize data from national GHG inventories (UNFCCC). Where available, national Tier 2 approaches should be used. In their absence, the IPCC Tier 1 methodology for drained and rewetted organic soils provides a standardized baseline.
3. Enhance Data Collection: Investment is needed in research and technology, including remote sensing and soil monitoring, to improve the accuracy of emission factors and track land-use change on peatlands.
4. Implement Supportive Policies: Governments and public bodies must create policy frameworks and financial incentives (e.g., subsidies, carbon credits) that support farmers in transitioning to sustainable land management practices, such as rewetting and paludiculture. This ensures that climate action does not compromise the economic well-being of rural communities (SDG 8).
5. Foster Public Awareness: Transparently reporting the full carbon footprint of food products will increase public awareness and empower consumers to make informed choices that support sustainable production (SDG 12).

5.0 Conclusion

The omission of greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands in the Life Cycle Assessments of European dairy products represents a significant blind spot in our efforts to combat climate change. This oversight distorts carbon footprints, misguides mitigation efforts, and undermines progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). It is imperative that researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers collaborate to integrate these emissions into standard accounting practices. By creating a complete and accurate picture of the dairy sector’s environmental impact, we can develop holistic, effective, and just strategies that protect our climate, restore vital ecosystems, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our food systems.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the carbon footprint of European dairy farming and the role of drained peatlands addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis highlights the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of agricultural practices, directly linking them to the global sustainability agenda.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire text revolves around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate change, and mitigation strategies. It explicitly discusses how “climate change is driven by rising greenhouse gases,” with food systems, particularly dairy farming, being significant contributors. The article’s core purpose is to advocate for more accurate carbon footprint (CF) calculations to create “effective mitigation strategies for reducing dairy-related greenhouse gas emissions.”

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article extensively discusses peatlands as crucial terrestrial ecosystems. It highlights their importance as “significant carbon reservoirs” and their degradation through drainage for agriculture, which turns them from “carbon sinks to one of the largest human-induced sources of GHG emissions.” The text also touches upon the “loss of biodiversity” and the need for restoration and sustainable use, such as rewetting and paludiculture, to protect these vital ecosystems.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is relevant through its focus on sustainable food production systems. The article examines “dairy production,” a key component of the European food system, and analyzes its environmental impact. It calls for a shift in agricultural practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of food production, directly connecting to the need to “ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices” as outlined in Target 2.4.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article’s focus on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Carbon Footprint (CF) of milk directly relates to this SDG. It critiques current production patterns by pointing out that “substantial GHG emissions originating from drainage and management of peatlands… are largely overlooked in current CF calculations in milk production.” By calling for more comprehensive and transparent reporting, the article advocates for more sustainable production methods and provides consumers and policymakers with better information to encourage responsible choices.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The economic dimension of sustainable agriculture is addressed when the article discusses the profitability of dairy farming. It notes that dairy is a “highly profitable sector” but also examines the “economic performance of Dutch dairy farms on peat soil.” Furthermore, it evaluates the economic viability of mitigation strategies like paludiculture, stating that their success “depends on improving market conditions and policy frameworks to make it economically competitive,” thus linking environmental sustainability with economic well-being for farmers.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified as directly relevant to the article’s analysis and recommendations.

1. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article directly supports this by referencing the “European Green Deal aiming for climate neutrality by 2050” and highlighting the “increasing pressure on the agricultural sector to implement efficient climate mitigation strategies.” The call to include peatland emissions in LCAs is a measure that should be integrated into policy and planning.

2. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands… The article’s entire focus on peatlands (a type of wetland) aligns with this target. It discusses their degradation via drainage and proposes restoration measures like “rewetting” and sustainable use through “paludiculture.”
   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The article describes how drainage leads to “ongoing degradation of these valuable peat soils” and “substantial release of carbon dioxide (CO2) through peat oxidation.” The discussion on rewetting is a direct response to restoring this degraded land.
   • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes… and accounts. The core argument to “integrate soil organic carbon losses into LCAs” and national GHG inventories (UNFCCC) is a direct call to integrate ecosystem values (or disservices, in the case of emissions from degraded land) into planning and accounting frameworks.

3. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems… and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The article critiques the sustainability of current dairy farming on peatlands and explores alternative, more resilient practices like paludiculture that aim to maintain the peatland ecosystem while still allowing for biomass production, thus addressing the need for sustainable systems that improve soil quality.

4. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):

   • Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. The paper’s critique of current LCA practices in the dairy industry is a direct call for companies to adopt more sustainable and transparent reporting. It argues that omitting peatland emissions “provides a distorted view on CFs” and hinders the development of effective mitigation strategies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicators for Climate Impact (SDG 13, SDG 2)

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture: The article provides specific figures, such as the dairy industry contributing “4% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions worldwide.” This can be tracked over time.
  • Carbon Footprint of Milk: The primary metric discussed is the CF, measured in “CO₂-equivalents (CO₂-eq) per kg FPCM.” The study by van Boxmeer et al. found that peat oxidation added “1.32 kg CO₂-eq per kg FPCM.” This indicator measures the emission intensity of production.
  • Annual Emissions from Drained Peatlands: A key indicator is the emission rate per unit area, which the article states is estimated at an “average of 31.7t CO₂-eq/ha/year” for grasslands on drained peat. This allows for calculating total emissions based on land use data.

• Indicators for Land and Ecosystem Health (SDG 15)

  • Area of Drained Peatlands: The article quantifies the extent of the problem, noting that in Europe, “nearly half (approximately 46%) of the total peatland area having undergone drainage.” Tracking the change in this area (through restoration or further drainage) is a key progress indicator.
  • Water Table Depth: This is identified as a critical operational indicator, as emissions are calculated using formulas “directly relating water table depth to CO₂ emissions.” Monitoring and managing water table depth is a direct measure of mitigation action.
  • Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Stock/Loss: The article is centered on the “need to integrate soil organic carbon losses into LCAs.” Measuring changes in SOC in agricultural soils, particularly peatlands, is a direct indicator of land degradation or restoration.
  • Biodiversity Levels: Although not quantified with a specific metric, the article implies this as an indicator by mentioning the “loss of biodiversity” from drainage and the potential for “rising biodiversity” through rewetting.

• Indicators for Sustainable Production and Policy (SDG 12, SDG 8)

  • Inclusion of Peatland Emissions in LCAs: A qualitative indicator of progress would be the proportion of agricultural LCAs, particularly for dairy, that “explicitly addressing GHG emissions from drained peatlands.” The article notes this is currently a “significant gap.”
  • Economic Profitability of Farming Systems: The article discusses the “profitability of management systems” and notes that sustainable alternatives are often only profitable “with subsidies and ecosystem service payments.” Comparing the profitability of different systems serves as an indicator of economic viability and the effectiveness of policy incentives.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: nature.com